Tracklist:
The Modern World – The Jam
Our House – Madness
Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4
The Town Car rolled to a stop on the quiet, tree-lined street, the polished surface of the car reflecting branches and leaves like the deepest and blackest of mirrors. The driver’s door opened and a man in a sky-blue suit and chauffeur’s cap jumped out.
A pair of teenage girls in plaid skirts passed him on the sidewalk. The man rubbed his black mustache with two fingers and watched the girls walk to the end of the block. The Lincoln’s horn beeped, and a tinted window in the rear of the car swished down.
“Vassily ...” murmured a deep voice.
The chauffeur spread his arms and replied in Russian, “Boss, I gave the signal but they did not stop!”
“They are pretty ones, Vassily. Just make me happy.”
The window rolled up, and Vassily sprinted down the sidewalk as if Beanie Babies were back in stock.
“Ladies! Wait!”
The two schoolgirls, a blonde and brunette, turned as Vassily slid to a stop on his slick leather shoes.
“Excuse me for bothering you,” he said. “I am looking for missing Asian-looking woman. Have you seen a lady in red dress? She is maybe with very fat woman.” He waved a pair of photos under their noses.
The blonde shook her head. “Sorry, mister.”
Vassily sighed and rubbed his eyes. “It is a big problem. Have you seen Julia Roberts vehicle, Runaway Bride? It is like that, only she is not horse face. She is pretty woman like famous actress Zhao Wei, and the Richard Gere character is billionaire of Kamchatka.”
The girls giggled.
“It is okay,” said Vassily.
He made a show of pulling a fat roll of bills from his trouser pocket, and waved a crisp, hundred-dollar note at the girls.
“This is actual cash of America, not Russia.”
He bowed deeply, ripped the bill in two, and gave half to the blonde.
“One more question, girls. If you say yes, I give other part of century bill.”
“Century what?”
“The bill. This money here,” said Vassily.
The brunette pulled at the blonde’s arm. “Marcy, this is getting weird.”
“Don’t worry, I am not child-like pervert!” Vassily turned and began to walk away. “If you do not like, I go now.”
The blonde rubbed the fragment of paper money between her fingers.
“Wait! Tell us what you want, but believe me, I’ll scream if you say anything nasty.”
Vassily nodded. He looked up and down the quiet street, then cleared his throat.
“Can I have your socks?”